Frame for tractor skidders and the like



Dec. 21 1926. 1,611,758

J. R. MCGIFFERT FRAME FOR TRACTOR SKIDDERS AND THE LIKE Original Filed Oct. 19. l92l INVENTOR. 70121? E. NGJferf BY I ATToRNEhS Patented Dec. 21, 1926.

entree stares JOE-IN. 13;.IWGJGJJZIEIEJRT,- OF DULUTH, MINNESOIA, ASSIGNOR. TO CLYDE IRON VICE-KS; OF DULUTH, IILINNESOTA, A COEEORATIUN OF MAI-NE.

FRAIWE FOR TRACTOR SKIDDERS AND THE LIKE.

Original a ppl i'eation filed October 19. 1921. Serial N50, 5108,898x Divided. and this application file-cl;

September 18?. 138-"4:

vention is to proviso a movable mounting,

for a skidding mechanism, such: a mounting taking the form of a tractor ot the continuous tread: or crawler-type. Further objects are to so arrange the elements oi: the skidding mechanism. as to make the machine readil transportable on the crawler mocha nism, and in this connection it has been found important so to construct the base or: platform of the tractor as to prevent distortion when the machine runs over or stands upon rough or uneven ground.

'ik-rthe z :complishment olsuch. las namedand related ends, the invention, then, coir sists of the means hereinafter iiully described and particularly pointer-l out in the claims, the annexeddrawings and the following description setting forth in detail certain mechanism embodying the invention,

such disclosed means constituting, however,

but one of various mecl'ianical forms in: which the principle of thelIlVQHlllOn may beused In said annexed drawings:

l is in plan view ofmy improvedi tractor skidder i11 assembled condition, the skidding boonr and the lines or cables that run thcreoverbeing omitted to avoid con-- fusion; Fig. 2 is a broken perspective View oitlie' platform or body of the tractor", the operating and propelling mechanism being (lll'llliteil; and F 3-is a cross section: showing a detail of the mechanism, the plane of the section being indicated by the line 55 Fig. 1.

The supporting body or platform 1- of the tractor constitutes the base on which is mounted an engine 2 with a boiler 3 for sup plying steam thereto, as Well asa skidding boom 41-, only the lower ends of the latter being shown in Fig. 1.

Said supporting body or platform, as best illustrated in the broken perspective view 01 Fig. 2, is composed of longitudinal beams Seliaih No: 7381393 or girders 5,. 5, joined at their rc 'o'ective ends: by transverse girders (5, (5, on the top of which is laid, so far I-iecessary, a floor or deck, the latter being; additionally supported where it extends beyond said longitu'diinali girders by: means of channels 7, 7. The two: longitudinal. girders 5, 5, rest on twotransizersegirders 8, 9, the first who-reel? is rigidly fixed to said longitudinal girders, while the second is l:iel.d\ against vertical or end, motion but is adjustable lengthwise of said girders by meansof adjusting bolts and nuts it for a purpose presently to he explained.

immediately adjacent: to the girder 9 is alilfifilSVGlSG channel 12, rig-idlysecurcd to the longitudinal beams or girders 5, 5; while two diagonal girders 13 13-, intersecting in the form. an X, are likewise secured to said. Longitudinal girders and to girders 8 and 12, said diagonal girders being flash on top with the longitudinal girders 5, and on the bottom with such last mentioned transverse girders. Such diagonal or cross girders thus not only serve to uniteinto; a; strong and compact frame the deck. supporting girders proper, but also; the; transversegirdersS and. Qwlrich support the traction members proper Will be subsequently described; accordingly, they prevent any torsion or twisting of the frame when ope iatin'g' o-vc' rough or uneven ground.

Fixed in: each end oii each: of said cross girders 8 and; S) is a casting: 15 in: which in: turn rigidly fixed an axle 16. Loosely mounted on the latter are sprocket wheels (not shown) that are secured to the axles by suitable collars, and around such spromket wheels extend traction chains 10, the detailed construction ol which not otpresent interest, there being a variety of such. chainsin GO'IIIHIQIGlELli use,

On each side 015 the base oi the supporting body or platform-3 intern'lediately of the corresponding sprocket Wheels, series o-t flanged bearing Wheels is. provided to engage the links of the traction chain passing' around said sprocket Wheel. Such wheels 20 thus engage the lower portion ot the traction chain and are mounted in pairs on axles 21 that extend through openings 21 in longitudinal girders 22 (see Fig. 3),

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such axles turning in suitable boxes 23, therefor provided. The girders 22 are, as best shown in Fig. 2, carried by pairs of transverse beams 535 that pass through the diagonrl or cross girders 13 and contact with the under sides of the longitudinal beams or girders 5, 5, of the main frame. The traction members are thus enabled to sup port said main f'ame directly both through the medium of the sprocket wheels 17 but more especially through the roller wheels 20. By virtue of the adjustable mounting provided for the forward axles, the traction chains may be tightened or loosened as occasion may require in order to retain same in easy running condition around such sprocket wheels and roller wheels. The slack in the upper portion of each traction chain is taken up and such portion sup ported by other smaller roller wheels (not shown Journaled in suitable bearings provided above the deck or platform of the main frame is a transverse shaft 30 that is adapted to be rotated by the engine 2 through suitable intermediate gearing, as need not be described in detail in the present connection. It is similarly unnecessary to describe herein the manner in which the sev eral winding drums mounted on the platform are arranged to be operated, nor the use for which the corresponding lines or cables are designed to be put, since these form no part of the invention claimed herein. Keyed to said shaft 30 is a pinion 33 that meshes with a gear 34, keyed in turn to a second transverse shaft 35, and loosely mounted on the latter are two clutch sprockets 4:0, 40, such sprockets being engageable with the shaft by means of friction clutches 41, 41. In the specific embodiment illustrated, these clutches are designed to be operated by means of steam jams 42, but any other form of clutch actuating device may obviously be employed instead. The sprockets lO are respectively connected by means of sprocket chains 43 with aligned sprocket wheels a l fixed to the inside faces of the respective traction sprockets 17 located at the corresponding end of the machine. By means of the driving connections thus pro-- vided, it will be seen that either traction chain 19 may be driven independently of the other or both such chains may be driven in unison. Suitable brakes are furthermore provided in conjunction with sprockets 40, whereby the machine may be held in lixed position when desired, as may be necessary on a grade, and also to facilitate turning by positively locking the one such sprocket and thus the corresponding traction chain against movement while the other sprocket and chain are being driven.

ther modes of applying the principle of my invention may be employed instead of the one explained, change being made as regards the mechanism herein disclosed, provided the means stated by any of the following claims or the equivalent of such.

stated means be employed.

I therefore particularly point out and distinctly claim as my invention 1. In a framework for a machine of the character described, the combination of spaced horizontal side members, end members connecting the same and lying in the same plane, diagonal girders extending be tween said side members, said girders being centrally connected, and axle supporting members mounted in spaced parallel relation transversely of said side members adjacent the ends of said diagonal girders, said girders extending beneath said axle members at their points of passage beneath said side members and said girders supporting said axle members at such points.

2. In a framework for a machine of the character described, the combination of spaced horizontal side members, end members connecting the same and lying in the same plane, diagonal girders extending between said side members, said girders being centrally connected, and axle supporting members mounted in spaced parallel relation transversely of said side members adjacent the ends of said diagonal girden, said girders extending beneath said axle members at their points of passage beneath said side members and said girders supporting said axle members at such points, one of said axle members being movable between said tudinally of said framework, and means adapted to position said last named axle member.

3. In a framework for a machine of the character described, the combination of spaced horizontal side members, end members connecting the same and lying in the same plane, diagonal girders extending be tween said side members intermediate said end members, said girders lying in the hori zontal plane of said side members and also extending below the same, axle supporting .nembers mounted against the bottom sides of said side members and against the ends of the downwardly extending portion of said girders, beams extending through said girders between said axle members, and longitudinally extending wheel support mem bers attached adjacent the ends of said beams.

Signed by me, this 15th day of September, 1924. 7

JOHN R. MOGIFFERT.

side members and said girders longi-' ill) 

